Jasmonic acid (JA)-mediating MYB transcription factor1, JMTF1, coordinates the balance between JA and auxin signalling in the rice defence response.

The plant hormone jasmonic acid (JA) is a signalling compound involved in the regulation of cellular defence and development in plants. In this study, we investigated the roles of a JA-responsive MYB transcription factor, JMTF1, in the JA-regulated defence response against rice bacterial blight caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo). JMTF1 did not interact with any JASMONATE ZIM-domain (JAZ) proteins. Transgenic rice plants overexpressing JMTF1 showed a JA-hypersensitive phenotype and enhanced resistance against Xoo. JMTF1 upregulated the expression of a peroxidase, OsPrx26, and monoterpene synthase, OsTPS24, which are involved in the biosynthesis of lignin and antibacterial monoterpene, γ-terpinene, respectively. OsPrx26 was mainly expressed in the vascular bundle. Transgenic rice plants overexpressing OsPrx26 showed enhanced resistance against Xoo. In addition to the JA-hypersensitive phenotype, the JMTF1-overexpressing rice plants showed a typical auxin-related phenotype. The leaf divergence and shoot gravitropic responses were defective, and the number of lateral roots decreased significantly in the JMTF1-overexpressing rice plants. JMTF1 downregulated the expression of auxin-responsive genes but upregulated the expression of OsIAA13, a suppressor of auxin signalling. The rice gain-of-function mutant Osiaa13 showed high resistance against Xoo. Transgenic rice plants overexpressing OsEXPA4, a JMTF1-downregulated auxin-responsive gene, showed increased susceptibility to Xoo. JMTF1 is selectively bound to the promoter of OsPrx26 in vivo. These results suggest that JMTF1 positively regulates disease resistance against Xoo by coordinating crosstalk between JA- and auxin-signalling in rice.

Systematic active environmental surveillance successfully identified and controlled the Legionella contamination in the hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Legionella disease can manifest as severe respiratory tract infection with a high mortality rate and is sometimes associated with a hospital outbreak by a contaminated water supply. A patient with breast cancer admitted about a month before. High fever was observed 18 days after admission and the Legionella antigen test showed the positive result. METHODS: Due to the incidence of Legionella infection, we demonstrated the active surveillance of Legionella contamination in the entire hospital. RESULTS: Cultures of her environmental samples revealed that hot water in two bathrooms were contaminated with Legionella. In our hospital, the hot water is heated and pumped up on the roof and distributed to each room. The contaminated bathrooms were related to the same plumbing. Therefore, we further collected samples throughout the hot water system. Legionella was not detected in the central part of the system. However, we detected Legionella in the hot water sampled from other five rooms, which were also associated with the same plumbing of the two bathrooms. The temperature and chlorine concentration of the hot water were not high enough to inactivate Legionella at the end of the plumbing. After the adjustment of the water temperature and chlorine concentration, Legionella became undetectable. Our prompt and active surveillance successfully identified the plumbing of the hot water system as the source of Legionella contamination and took precautions against future outbreaks. CONCLUSIONS: Monitoring of water temperature and chloride concentration at the end of the hot water circulation is important to prevent nosocomial Legionella disease.

Mn tolerance in rice is mediated by MTP8.1, a member of the cation diffusion facilitator family.

Manganese (Mn) is an essential micronutrient for plants, but is toxic when present in excess. The rice plant (Oryza sativa L.) accumulates high concentrations of Mn in the aerial parts; however, the molecular basis for Mn tolerance is poorly understood. In the present study, genes encoding Mn tolerance were screened for by expressing cDNAs of genes from rice shoots in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A gene encoding a cation diffusion facilitator (CDF) family member, OsMTP8.1, was isolated, and its expression was found to enhance Mn accumulation and tolerance in S. cerevisiae. In plants, OsMTP8.1 and its transcript were mainly detected in shoots. High or low supply of Mn moderately induced an increase or decrease in the accumulation of OsMTP8.1, respectively. OsMTP8.1 was detected in all cells of leaf blades through immunohistochemistry. OsMTP8.1 fused to green fluorescent protein was localized to the tonoplast. Disruption of OsMTP8.1 resulted in decreased chlorophyll levels, growth inhibition in the presence of high concentrations of Mn, and decreased accumulation of Mn in shoots and roots. However, there was no difference in the accumulation of other metals, including Zn, Cu, Fe, Mg, Ca, and K. These results suggest that OsMTP8.1 is an Mn-specific transporter that sequesters Mn into vacuoles in rice and is required for Mn tolerance in shoots.

Drug-induced sarcoidosis-like reaction three months after BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccination: A case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: A 70-year-old man with hepatitis C virus-related recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma was admitted for further diagnosis of a 1 cm iso-hyperechoic nodule in segment (S) 5. CASE SUMMARY: Gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (EOB-MRI) revealed the nodule in S5 with a defect at the hepatobiliary phase, hyperintensity on diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and hypointensity on apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed hypervascularity at the early phase, and delayed contrast-enhancement was observed at the late phase. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (US) revealed incomplete defect at the late vascular phase. Inflammatory liver tumor, lymphoproliferative disease, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (small duct type) and bile duct adenoma were suspected through the imaging studies. US guided biopsy, however, showed a noncaseating hepatic sarcoid-like epithelioid granuloma (HSEG), and histopathological analysis disclosed spindle shaped epithelioid cells harboring Langhans-type multinucleated giant cells. One month after admission, EOB-MRI signaled the disappearance of the defect at the hepatobiliary phase, of hyperintensity on DWI, of hypointensity on ADC map, and no stain at the early phase. CONCLUSION: That the patient had received BNT162b2 messenger RNA (mRNA) coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination 3 mo before the occurrence of HSEG, and that its disappearance was confirmed 4 mo after mRNA vaccination suggested that the drug-induced sarcoidosis-like reaction (DISR) might be induced by the mRNA vaccination. Fortunately, rechallenge of drug-induced DISR with the third mRNA vaccination was not confirmed.

Rice MEDIATOR25, OsMED25, is an essential subunit for jasmonate-mediated root development and OsMYC2-mediated leaf senescence.

The Mediator multiprotein complex acts as a universal adaptor between transcription factors (TFs) and RNA polymerase II. MEDIATOR25 (MED25) has an important role in jasmonic acid (JA) signaling in Arabidopsis. However, no research has been conducted on the role of MED25 in JA signaling in rice, which is one of the most important food crops globally and is a model plant for molecular studies in other monocotyledonous species. In the present study, we isolated the loss-of function mutant of MED25, osmed25, through the map-based cloning and phenotypic complementation analysis by the introduction of OsMED25 and investigated the role of OsMED25 in JA signaling in rice. The osmed25 mutants had longer primary (seminal) roots than those of the wild-type (WT) and exhibited JA-insensitive phenotypes. S-type lateral root densities in osmed25 mutants were lower than those in the WT, whereas L-type lateral root densities in osmed25 mutants were higher than those in the WT. Furthermore, the osmed25 mutants retarded JA-regulated leaf senescence under dark-induced senescence. Mutated osmed25 protein could not interact with OsMYC2, which is a positive TF in JA signaling in rice. The expression of JA-responsive senescence-associated genes was not upregulated in response to JA in the osmed25 mutants. The results suggest that OsMED25 participates in JA-mediated root development and OsMYC2-mediated leaf senescence in rice.

Distant metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma to Meckel's cave and cranial nerves: A case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Metastasis occurs as a late event in the natural history of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and most patients die of liver failure attributed to the tumor supplanting the liver. Conversely, the brain is a less common metastatic site. CASE SUMMARY: We describe a rare case of hepatitis C virus-related multiple HCC metastasizing to the cavernous sinus, Meckel's cave, and the petrous bone involving multiple cranial nerves in an 82-year-old woman. At admission imaging studies including Gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed multiple HCC nodules in both right and left lobes. Ultrasound guided biopsy of the left lobe revealed moderately differentiated HCC. Molecular targeted therapy with Lenvatinib (8 mg/d for 94 d, per os) and Ramucirumab (340 mg/d and 320 mg/d, two times by intravenous injection) were administered for 4 mo, resulting in progression of the disease. Three months after the start of molecular target therapy, the patient presented with symptoms of hyperalgesia of the right face and limited abduction of the right eye, indicating disturbances in the right trigeminal and abducens nerves. Brain MRI disclosed a mass involving the cavernous sinus, Meckel's cave and the petrous bone. Contrast-enhanced MRI with gadolinium-chelated contrast medium revealed a well-defined mass with abnormal enhancement around the right cavernous sinus and the right Meckel's cave. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of metastatic HCC to the cavernous sinus, Meckel's cave, and the petrous bone was made based on neurological findings and imaging studies including MRI, but not on histological examinations. Further studies may provide insights into various methods for diagnosing HCC metastasizing to the craniospinal area.

[Clinical features of secondary spontaneous pneumothorax in interstitial pneumonia].

Secondary spontaneous pneumothorax is a critical event in the clinical course of interstitial pneumonia. To investigate its clinical features, we retrospectively reviewed 21 cases (13 men and 8 women, age range 43 to 75, mean age 64.5) of interstitial pneumonia accompanied with pneumothorax, including 14 cases with chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis, 4 cases of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, and 3 cases of other etiology of interstitial pneumonia. The mean vital capacity percentage (VC) was 56%, and percentage of diffusing capacity of lung for carbon monoxide (DLco) was 46%. Fourteen cases (67%) were treated with steroids and eight cases (38%) were complicated by Aspergillus infection. The median survival time (MST) from the onset of pneumothorax was 214 days. The dosage of steroids and the frequency of Aspergillus infection were significantly higher in patients whose pneumothorax did not improve than in those whose pneumothorax improved. In conclusion, steroids and Aspergillus infection seem to be associated with the development of pneumothorax and poor outcome in interstitial pneumonia.

[Clinical efficacies of antifungal injections].

The incidence of fungal infection is increasing. Amphotericin B has been the gold standard in antifungal chemotherapy for a long time. Within the past few years, three novel antifungal agents have been approved to evaluate the clinical benefits in Japan. Liposomal amphotericin B is developed to reduce toxicities of amphotericin B. Voriconazole, a kind of the new broad-spectrum triazoles, is recommended for the primary treatment of invasive aspergillosis. Micafungin is a new lipopeptide antifungal agent of the echinocandin class. These drugs might provide an individualized and more effective antifungal therapy for each patient. On the other hand, we need to establish a new standard therapy.

[A case of hypersensitivity pneumonitis caused by smut spores of Ustilago esculenta].

A 49-year-old woman was admitted with cough, general fatigue, and dyspnea on effort. Her hobby was the Japanese traditional handicraft of lacquer-carving. She sometimes used smut spores of Ustilago esculenta, pronounced as "Makomozumi"on lacquer ware. The chest radiographs showed diffuse ground-glass opacities and small centrilobular nodules. Bronchoalveolar lavage yielded a marked number of lymphocytes as well as total cell counts and a low CD4 +/CD8 + ratio. The transbronchial lung biopsy specimen revealed lymphocytic alveolitis and non-necrotizing epithelioid cell granulomas. The results of provocation test by Makomozumi were positive. Serum tests of the specific antibody against extracted soluble antigens of smut spores were positive. The peripheral lymphocyte proliferation test, performed with Mokomozumi antigens was also positive. The final diagnosis was hypersensitivity pneumonitis induced by smut spores of fungus Ustilago esculenta.

A polarly localized transporter for efficient manganese uptake in rice.

Manganese is an essential metal for plant growth. A number of transporters involved in the uptake of manganese from soils, and its translocation to the shoot, have been identified in Arabidopsis and rice. However, the transporter responsible for the radial transport of manganese out of root exodermis and endodermis cells and into the root stele remains unknown. Here, we show that metal tolerance protein 9 (MTP9), a member of the cation diffusion facilitator family, is a critical player in this process in rice (Oryza sativa). We find that MTP9 is mainly expressed in roots, and that the resulting protein is localized to the plasma membrane of exo- and endodermis cells, at the proximal side of these cell layers (opposite the manganese uptake transporter Nramp5, which is found at the distal side). We demonstrate that MTP9 has manganese transport activity by expression in proteoliposomes and yeast, and show that knockout of MTP9 in rice reduces manganese uptake and its translocation to shoots. We conclude that at least in rice MTP9 is required for manganese translocation to the root stele, and thereby manganese uptake.